Signal-lantern and flag holder



(No Model.)

W. H. BRIGGS & G. M. CLARK.

SIGNAL LANTERN AND FLAG HOLDER. No. 340,090. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

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UNITED STATES 'ATENT .OFricE.

\VILLIAM H. BltlGUS AND GEORGE M. CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL-LANTERN AND FLAG HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,090, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed April 14, 1885.

. To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. Braces and GEORGE M. CLARK, citizens of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in SignalLantern and Flag Holders, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates'to holders for displaying signal-lanterns and flags on railway cars, locomotives, and other analogous places. Our object therein has been to combine in one device both a lantern-holder and a flag-holder, so constructed that it can be adjusted for either use readily and quickly; and the invention consists in certain novel and useful arrangements, combinations of parts,andpeculiarities of construction fully described hereinafter.

In the drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the holder when arranged for use with the flag. Fig. 2 is a side view of the device in the same position. Fig. 8 is a side view showing the holder in position to receive a lantern. Fig. 4 is a top view, the parts being in the same position as in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a partial front view of the attaching-pl ate. Fig. 7 shows the arrangement for locking the arms to prevent the removal of the lantern; and Fig. 8 is a partial central vertical section showing the parts in the position indicated by Fig. 3.

In the drawings,A represents the attachingplate, provided with an outwardly-extending bracket, a, which receives a pintle, a, upon which the apparatus may be swung horizontally, and to which pintle the holding devices are hinged at a in such manner as to enable them to swing vertically.

The main feature of the holder proper is the series of radiating arms or supports B B B forming a spider-like device. One arm, B, of this series is hinged, as already stated, at a and this arm forms the support for the radiating arms and the other parts borne thereon. Said arm also carries a pin, b, by means of which the apparatus, when used as alanternholder, is positioned upon the plate A, said pin entering such one of the openings a in the bracket a as desired. The pin 1) also serves to Serial No. 162,189. (No model.)

support the radiating arms when lowered to the horizontal position by the engagement of its shoulder a with the bracket a. Each of the radiating arms is slotted, and in such slots are inserted movable hook -carrying slides O O 0, each of which is provided with a pin, a, entering eccentric slots din the rotatable plate D. Through the movements of this plate the slides are moved in or out, as desired, according as the lamp is to be secured or released. hen secured, the hooks 0 lap over the baseplate of the lantern, the outline of which is indicated by dotted line r in Fig. 4.

The plate D is turned with its central pivot, d, the latter having a bearing in the center of the plate forming the base or junction of the radiating arms and carrying upon one extremity the flag-socket E and a disk, E, and at the other end a button, F. The disk E is partially ratchet-faced and provided with a shoulder, f, and with such ratchet and shoulder a spring-pawl, G, supported upon a connectiug-bar, g, engages, as required, to secure the parts against turning. This engagement is such that the rotation is permitted in the direction in which the parts move when the slides are to be drawn toward the center;

but movement in the opposite direction is resisted, and when the latter movement is de sired the pawl must be pressed upon by the thumb and caused to release its hold.

When the device is to be used as a lanternholder,the radiating arms are lowered to that one of the horizontal positions desired, and the lantern placed thereon, and the hooks are then drawn up until the lamp is fastened. The pawl will now prevent any accidental slipping back ofthe hooks; but if'it is desired to lock them absolutely it can be done by passing any suitable locking device through that one of the openings 0 in the depending flange 0 upon the under side of some one of the slides, say 0, registering with the passage between the two depending projections 0 upon the radiating arm in which the slide 0 is carried. It will be noticed that in adjusting the slides the flag-socket may serve as a grasp for turning the eccentrically-slotted plate through which the hooks are actuated.

When it is desired to use the device as a flag-holder, the radiating arms are raised to 2 I mm the vertical position with the button F in 110- sition to enter the opening f in the plate A, and the flag-socket is then rotated until it stands vertical. This brings the button into locking engagement with the plate A, the shoulders f 2 upon the button standing at either side thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and at this time also the pawl will be in engagement with the shoulder f of the disk, as indicated at Fig. 1, thereby locking the socket against any rotation. This Fig. 1 indicates the position of the parts when used as just described.

Of course the slides are provided with means for securing them in the radiating arms, and

we employ forthis purposein'the case of slides O buttons 1', attached to the slides near their outer ends and spanning the slot in the radiating arms. In the case of the slide carrying the depending flange a lateral pin, 5, is secured in said flange, and in order that this slide may be inserted in the radial arms a lateral enlargement, i is made in the slot of the arm in such position that said pin will not enter it in the ordinary movements of the slide. The assembling of the parts with the eccentric disk overlapping the ends of the slides aids in confining them in their re- 7 spective slots.

They might of course slide in dovetail grooves, if that were deemed preferable.-

m m indicate stops upon the plate A, acting to prevent interference betweenthe plate and the hooks and pins upon the slides.

When not in use, the holding devices proper are preferably folded up against the attaching-plate, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

While we have shown three radial arms, we do not wish to be limited to that feature in terms, as it is obvious that any number of radial arms convenient forthe purpose could be used instead. It is also obvious that the arms may be strengthened by connecting them together otherwise than at their junction or base.

We claim 1. The signal-lantern holder consisting of a supporting-plate, in combination with a spider hinged to said plate and having movable hook-carrying slides, and the eccentrically-slotted plate engaging with and actuating the slides, substantially as specified.

v 2. The signal-lantern holder consisting of a supporting-plate, in combination with a spider hinged to said plate and having movable hookcarrying slides, a rotatable eccening the slides, and a pawl and ratchet. for

securing the plate against rotation, substan-- tially as specified.

3. The combination of a supporting-plate, a hinged lantern 7 holder adapted to fold up against the plate, a lock for securing it in the folded position, and a flag-socket borne upon the lantern-holder, substantially as setforth. 4. The combination, in a lantern-holder, of a series of radial arms, slides in said arms provided with hooks for engaging the lantern platepivoted upon said arms and engaging all said pins, one of said slides having also a perforated depending flange, and the arm in which the same is located having depending projections, by means of which flange and projections all the slides may be locked, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of plate A, havin a retaining-button to enter said opening, and

. the flag-socket secured to the same pivot with said button,.substantially as specified.

7. The plate A, having opening f, the swinging holder having a retaining-button to enter said opening, and a flag-socket, in combination with a spring-paw] carried on the holder and a lockingratchet, the socket, ratchet, and button being fast upon the same pivot, substantially as specified.

8. The combined lantern and flag holder consisting of the attaching-plate A, provided with the locking-opening, in combination with a spider having one of its arms hinged to said plate, hooks, for securing the lantern attached to the arms of said spider, a retaining-button mounted on said spider, and a socket attached to theshank of said button,

Witnesses:

- EDW. S. EVARTS,

EDMUND ADoocK.

trically-slotted plate engaging with and met- 3' 5 openingf, with the swinging holder having 

